An Exhibition on View at the Skirball Cultural Center
April 4-July 25, 2000

October 4, 1999

LOS ANGELES--Sigmund Freud: Conflict and Culture, a major exhibition examining the life and work of one of this century's most remarkable and influential figures, will be on view at the Skirball Cultural Center April 4 through July 25, 2000. With funding for its Los Angeles run provided by the J. Paul Getty Trust, Sigmund Freud: Conflict and Culture will underscore Freud’s key ideas and show how notions of the self—identity, memory, childhood, repression and sexuality—have been shaped in relation to his work. The exhibition will include vintage photographs, prints, and manuscript letters, as well as commercial film and television clips that illustrate Freud's contested legacies and influence on popular culture.

Heralded by the New York Times as "cleverly designed" and by the New Yorker as "revelatory," Sigmund Freud: Conflict and Culture attracted a flurry of controversy in its planning stages and a storm of critical praise as an exhibition that points the way for exhibiting vital subjects in cultural history. It has sparked the popular imagination, attracting large audiences to showings at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (October 15, 1998 - January 16, 1999) and The Jewish Museum, New York (April 18 - September 9, 1999). The exhibition will travel to the Austrian National Library, Vienna (October 21, 1999 - February 6, 2000) before opening at the Skirball Cultural Center for its only West Coast exhibition.

Sigmund Freud: Conflict and Culture was organized by the Library of Congress in cooperation with the Sigmund Freud-Museum in Vienna and the Freud Museum, London and curated by Michael S. Roth, Associate Director, The Getty Research Institute.

In conjunction with the Freud exhibition, the Skirball Cultural Center and the Getty Center will host a variety of programs including lectures, films, discussions, concerts, educational classes and family activities.

The Skirball Cultural Center and the Getty Center are located one freeway exit away from each other off the 405 freeway in West Los Angeles. The Skirball Cultural Center opened in April 1996; the Getty Center opened in December 1997. The two institutions have had a strong relationship and have engaged in professional exchanges since the 1980s, including the sharing of scholarly expertise in object handling and conservation. The Skirball also has received various grants from the Getty, including a capital construction gift in the mid-1980s and funding for the electronic cataloging of the Skirball collection in 1998. Sigmund Freud: Conflict and Culture marks the first collaboration between the Skirball and the Getty for an exhibition and public programs.

The Skirball’s mission emphasizes the experience of Jews during the nearly four centuries that Jewish life has flourished on American shores, influencing and being influenced by the larger society. "We are really grateful to the Getty for many acts of friendship and encouragement. Now we’ve been offered a new opportunity to bring the West Coast important cultural vistas. Sigmund Freud: Conflict and Culture, by exploring the legacy of one of the greatest minds of the 20th century and his wide ranging impact on American culture, exemplifies the spirit of the Skirball's dedication to probing American life and the American Jewish experience," says Skirball Cultural Center President Uri D. Herscher.

President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust Barry Munitz comments, "We are thrilled to be collaborating with the Skirball to bring important cultural experiences to new audiences. The Freud exhibition has galvanized public and intellectual debate and drawn fascinated visitors to each of its previous venues. We know Los Angeles will find the exhibition particularly compelling. This is just the start of more joint projects of this scope between our two institutions."

Special tours of Sigmund Freud: Conflict and Culture will be offered for high school history, literature, and psychology classes. Teachers can call 310-440-4647 for reservations and information. Private docent-led group tours (10 or more people required) are also currently being booked. For reservations and information, the public can call 310-440-4564.

The Skirball Cultural Center seeks to interpret the Jewish experience and to strengthen American society through a range of cultural programs-including museum exhibitions, concerts, lectures, performances, readings, symposia, film and video screenings, and educational offerings for adults and children of all ages and backgrounds. Designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie, the Skirball is located off the 405 Freeway; exit Skirball Center Drive. The Center is open to the public Tuesday - Saturday 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; closed Monday. Admission is $8.00 (general), $6.00 (seniors 65+ and students) and free (children under 12 years and members). For information, the public may call (310) 440-4500 or visit our Web site at www.skirball.com.

About the Getty:

The J. Paul Getty Trust is an international cultural and philanthropic institution devoted to the visual arts that features the Getty Conservation Institute, the Getty Foundation, the J. Paul Getty Museum, and the Getty Research Institute. The J. Paul Getty Trust and Getty programs serve a varied audience from two locations: the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Getty Villa in Malibu.